Locomotive firebox



May v20, 1941. H. A. HOKE ETAL LOCOMOTIVE FIREBOX /ENToRsr f. Hake &

ATTORNEYS.

Harry @j WITNESSES:

May 20, 1941- H. A. HOKE Ei' AL 2,242,213'

LOCOMOTIVE FIREBGXv Filed April l2, 1940 y 5 Sheecs-Sheef.` 2

` BY Samuel PLZayd,

ZMM m ATTORNEY May 2o, 1941. H, A, HKE ETAL 2,242,213

LOCOMOTIVE FIREBOX Patented May 20, 1941 LocoMoTIvE rmnox Harry A. Hoke, Altoona, and Samuel P. Lloyd, Narberth, Pa., assignors to The'llennsylvania Railroad Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a. corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationApril 12, 1940, Serial No. 329,242

6A Claims.

invention in its broader aspects relates to iireboxes of the species including a Water circulator structure disposedv transversely or longitudinally of the rebox and affording support for a refractory arch, designed to promote rapid combustion in the rebox with proportionately improved water circulation in the boiler. Such structures, while operating to control or check wastage of the combustible products passing fro-m the regi-on of ignition to the boiler tubes, have appreciably diminished the ameway with incidental reduction of thermicA efciency per unit of time.

The primary object of this invention is to overcome the noted. objection :by providing a novel means whereby the length of ameway in standard. type lreboxes is substantially increased, with a proportionally better yconsumption of the combustible products or gases arising from the source of ignition.

Another object is the provision of a novel water circulator structure andauxiliary arch` which is so disposed relative to the re bed in a locomotive rebox as to furnish an extended ameway effective to completely consume the combustible matter and gases arising fromI said re bed, so that the smoke box ydischarge is freed of all burning particles or gas.

A further object 4is the provision of -a novel circulator and refractory arch structure of the above indicated species, `preferably for installation in the iireboxes of locomotives, whereby the water steaming efficiency is improved and adequate support is provided for the auxiliary arch` With the above stated objects and ancillary advantages in View, this invention consists substantially in the novel form, arrangement and co-relation of parts hereinafterv fully disclosed, illustrated by the accompanying drawings of preferred embodiments and wherein similar characters of reference-are used to designate 4corresponding parts throughout the several views; while the concluding claims more particularly recite the features of novelty.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken vertical longitudinal section of the iirebox end of a locomotive Iboiler embodying a. preferred form of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the staggered plane II-II in Fig. 1.

YFig. 3 is a similar section to the preceding, but taken on the plane III-III of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 1, but showing the adaptation of this invention to a locomotive firebox having a conventional refractory arch.

In the following detailed description of the embodiments of this invention, shown 'by the accompanying three sheets of drawings, specific terms Will be employed for the sake of clarity; :but it is to be understood that such terms are used in a descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. Each specific term employed herein is intendedv to embrace all technical equivalents which are susceptible of analogous interpretation.

For the purpose of better illustrating this invention and its application to a conventional type of locomotive i'lrebox comprehensively designated, in all the views, as I, and comprising side sheets 2, having a crown `sheet 3, vback head sheet 4 including a re door opening 5, flue sheet 6, and rear throat sheet and grate 8. The rebox I, it will be understood, is appropriately stayed relative to` the boiler outer shell comprising side sheets 9, top sheet ID, back head sheet II, front throat sheet I2, and mud ring I3; said outer shell defining in `conjunction with the rebox I, side and back end Water legs I4, I5, respectively, as well las a crown space I6 and front throat I'I, all in conformity with prevailing practice.

Referring now moreparticularly to Figs. 1-3,

inclusive, in accordance with this invention, the

iirebox I intermediate its inner ends, defined by the flue sheet 6 and back head sheet 4, is fitted withv a series of lorigitudinally-spa-cedV circulatory devices I8, I8', preferably as shown,'in the form of-inverted substantially T-shaped pipes, the leg portions I9 whereof are suitably secured at 20 into the `crown sheet 3, with the arm portions 2| disposed transversely of the lrebox I and similarly connected into the side sheets 2- at 22. It is to .be here particularly noted. that the leg portions I9 of the devices I8 have their upper portions verti- 'cal` and their lower portions, of differing extent, inclined towards th-e .back end leg I5 at an acute angle, while the center device I8 is provided with a diametrically reduced lower extension 23 and additional@ arm portions 24 in special relation below the arm portions 2| aforesaid thereby forming an inverted double-armed or Lorraine Cross device, such portions 24 being connected into the side sheets 2 at 25. In other words, it will be seen that use is made of four inverted T-shaped circulatory devices I8 with one double-armed device |8 medially located of the series, for 'a purpose to be later explained.

The `arm -portions 2| of the two forward circu- (latorydevices I 8 in conjunction with the upper arms 2| of the center device I 8 'jointly aiord support for the forward arch 25 of refractory bricks 21; whereas the arm portions 2| of the two rearward circulatory devices I8 in conjunction with the lower arms 24 of the center device I8 provide support for an auxiliary arch 28 of refractory bricks 29. This auxiliary arch 28, it is to be noted, extends rearwards from below the back end of the forward arch 26 with an upward inclination to a point in spacial relation below the crown sheet 3 as well as with respect to the back end sheet 4; while the front opening 30 intermediate the arms 2|, 24 is of substantially less depth vertically than the opening 3| between the arms 2| and the crown sheet 3. Preferably the front arch 26 is formed with a slight longitudinal curvature, to induce a rearward or return iiame flow towards the opening-30; while the auxiliary arch 28 is pitched at a slight acute angle upwards towards the back head sheet 4 from below the opening 30 or with respect to the longitudinal chord of the arch 26 so as to effect the dual purpose of checking direct passage of the flame rearwards thereover and at the same time inducing flame flow thereunder and through the opening 3|, as clearly understandable by those acquainted with the art and as conventionally indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. Thus it will be obvious that by provision of the lauxiliary arch 28, the flame flow arising from the fuel on the grate 8 is considerably extended with resultant more complete consumption of the combustible content before entering the boiler flues 32, whereby the thermic effect of the rebox is greatly improved and the circulatory efficiency enhanced.

The modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 illustrates the adaptation of the auxiliary arch 28 to a firebox having a conventional arch 33, and it will be seen said auxiliary arch is consequently carried further to the back head sheet 4. In this case the leg portion I9 of the forward circulatory device |8 is carried up through the rear end of the arch 33 by substitution of special notched-out refractory bricks 34; also that similar special bricks having cut-outs 35 constitute the rear row of the auxiliary arch 28, so as to define ow passage for the flame up and over said auxiliary arch, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing, the merits and advantages of this invention will be clearly apparent without furtherelaboration herein; while it is to be understood the embodiments herein disclosed are illustrative only as the invention is obviously adaptable to other than locomotive reboxes, without departing from the spirit and scope of said invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a ilrebox including a crown, side and throat sheets, a forward arch inclined upwardly from the throat sheet towards the back head; a series of longitudinally spaced substantially T- shape tubular transverse circulatory devices having the leg ends connected through the firebox crown, the arm portions being similarly connected at their extremities into the side sheets, with an intervening device having vertically-spaced multiple arms; refractory brick supported by said arms to define a forward arch extending from the throat sheet to the upper arms of the intervening device, and an extension arch from said intervening device lower arms towards the firebox back end, whereby the rebox flameway is substantially increased.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the forward arch is longitudinally curved, and the extension arch is rearwardly and spacially inclined slightly up relative to a plane including the chord of the forward arch longitudinal curvature.

3. 'I'he combination of claim 1, wherein the intervening device multiple arms are vertically spaced and the arms of the rearmost device are positioned so as to define a flameway opening between the respective arch adjoining ends, with another iiaineway opening between the extension arch rear extremity and the fire box back end and crown sheets, and said openings are of different vertical height.

4. In a iirebox including a crown, side and throat sheets; a forward arch inclined upwardly from the throat sheet towards the back head; inverted substantially T-shape tubular transverse circulatory devices and an associated device with additional arm portions, all of said devices having the leg ends connected through the re box crown with the arm portions similarly connected at their outer extremities into the side sheets; and refractory brick supported by the said arm portions to define an extension arch in continuation of and spacedly below the rear end of the forward arch, whereby the fire box flameway is substantially increased. y

5. 'I'he combination of claim l, wherein the intervening circulatory device embodies a diametrically reduced lower extension in alignment with the leg portion beyond the arm portions thereof, and an additional pair of arms in spacial relation below the arm portions aforesaid.

6. The combination of claim 4, wherein the leg portion of each circulatory device embodies an upright section with the lower portion rearwardly inclined at an acute angle to the Vertical and said devices are graduated in height, the extension arch is angularly pitched with respect to the plane of the forward arch, the refractory brick forming the rear end of the forward arch are notched to engage the additional arm portions of the associated circulatory device in spaced relation above the forward end of the extension arch to define therewith a iiameway opening, and similar refractory brick at the rear of said extension arch provide with the fire box back end and crown sheets a second relatively restricted flameway passage.

HARRY A. HOKE. SAMUEL P. LLOYD. 

